A-level Computing/AQA/Computer Components, The Stored Program Concept and the Internet/Fundamentals of Computer Systems

From the Specification : Hardware and Software

Understand the relationship between hardware and software and be able to define both.

Hardware and software

From the Specification : Classification of Software
  • Be aware of how software is classified.
  • Be able to explain what is meant by system software and application software.
  • Understand the need for and attributes of different types of software

Classification of Software

From the Specification : System Software

Understand the need for, and functions of, system software:

  • Operating system software
  • Utility programs
  • Library programs
  • Translator software (compiler, assembler, interpreter)

System software

From the Specification : Application Software

Describe the different types of application software and the criteria for selecting appropriate software for particular purposes.

  • General purpose application software.
  • Special purpose application software.
  • Bespoke application software

Application software

From the Specification : Generations of Programming Language

Describe machine-code language and assembly language.

Awareness of the development of programming languages and the limitations of both machine-code and assembly-language programming

  • First generation - Machine code
  • Second generation - Assembly language
  • Third generation - Imperative high level language
    • Explain the term imperative high level language and its relationship to first and second generation languages
  • Fourth generation - Declarative language
    • Explain the term declarative programming language and where and why declarative languages are used

Generations of programming language

From the Specification : Types of Program Translator

Define each type of language translator and describe situations where each would be appropriate.

  • Assembler
  • Compiler
  • Interpreter

Types of program translator